Pintle fastening means for cutter chains



March 11, 195s 2,826,085

J. R. CARTLIDGE El' AL PINTLE FASTENING MEANS FOR CUTTER CHAINS Filed March 5, 1956 L T J Z PIN'ILE FASTENHNG MEANS FOR CUTTER CHAWS John R. Cartlidge, Bridgetown, and Claude Krekeler, Mack, h10, assiguors to The Cincinnati Mine Ma chinery Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March S, 1956, Serial No. 569,461

12 Ciaims. (Cl. 74--254) Cutter chains for mining machinery are made up of alternate link members. There is a link member which provides spaced cheeks interconnected at the top by a block-like portion which is perforated transversely so as to form a socket member for receiving the shank of a cutter bit or cutter bit holder. The alternate link members are single elements, the ends of which lie between the cheeks of the first mentioned member, the various elements being pivoted together by pintles. The pintles are generally cylindrical elements which pass through perforations in the cheeks of the socket link members and perforations in the ends of the alternate link members. It has been recognized that it is advantageous to provide against rotation of the pintles. To this end the pintles are usually provided with a flat on one side, and the perforations of at least one of the cheeks are provided with a similar and coacting flat portion.

A common practice in the past has been to fasten the pintles in place by means of a rivet headed on both ends. The rivet lies in a half round groove in the ilat of the pintle, and similar half round grooves are made in the flats yof the perforations in the cheeks. The cheeks and the pintle are eountersunk or otherwise configured to receive the rivet heads. Since the ends of the pintle as well as the heads of the rivet must be wholly confined within the outer surfaces of the cheeks, the installation of the rivet has to be accomplished with care and is time consuming. The removal of the pintle when this becomes necessary also involves time and inconvenience.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pintle holding means which is simple, inexpensive and easy to install while providing greater speed and convenience when removal is necessary.

This and other objects of the invention which will be set forth hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specilications, are accomplished by that construction and arrangement of parts of which certain exemplary embodiments will now be described. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is an exploded elevational View of the chain elements.

Figure 2 is a partial end elevation of one of the socket chain links.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a pintle prepared for the practice of the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a split fastening pin.

Figure 5 is an exploded transverse elevational view illustrative of the manner of fastening the pintle in place, the alternate link member being omitted for clarity.

Figure 6 is a corresponding view showing the pintle fastened in place.

Figure 7 combines a side elevation and an end elevation of a modified form of pintle.

Figure 8 combines an end elevation and a side elevation of the socket link member showing the mode of use of the pintle of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a partial end elevation of a socket link ice member showing the groove which receives the head of the pintle of Figure 7.

Figure 10 combines a side elevation and an end elevation showing the use of another modied form of pintle.

Figure 1l combines an end elevation and a side elevation of the pintle employed in the structure of Figure l0.

In Figures l and 2, the general elements of a cutter chain are more or less diagrammatically illustrated. A socket chain link member is shown at 1 having spaced cheeks 2 and 3 depending from an integral block 4 which is perforated as at 5 to provide a socket for the reception of the shank 6 of a holder 7 for a renewable cutter bit 8. The socket element 4 is normally provided with a set screw 9, but other fastening means may be provided.

The ends of the cheeks of the socket chain element are provided with pintle-receiving perforations 10. These perforations normally have at sides 11 for the purpose noted above; and half round grooves 12 are formed in the flats, usually by broaching.

The intermediate chain link members 13 are single link elements, the ends of which are provided with circular pintle receiving perforations 14. The details and coustruction of these various elements may be widely varied without affecting the invention.

In Figure 3 there is shown a cylindrical pintle 15. This pintle is provided with the conventional at 16 coacting with the shaped perforations 10 of the socket chain link member to prevent pintle rotation. In accordance with the principles of this invention a half round integral element 17 is formed on the pintle flat. The transverse dimensions of this element are such that it will pass through the half round grooves 12 of the cheek perfora tions of the socket chain link element. It should be noted also that the transverse dimensions of the half round element 17 are such that it is confined wholly within the projection of the cylindrical surface of the pintle so that the element will pass through the circular perforations 14 of the alternate chain link element 13.

The half round element 17 is terminated so that its ends will lie wholly in the space between the inner surfaces of the cheeks 2 and 3 of the socket chain link element, as will be evident from an examination of Figures 5 and 6; and the ends of the element 17 are formed into wedge shaped configurations 18 and 19 as shown.

The fastening means employed in this invention is a pin element illustrated in Figure 4 as having a half round body 20, one end of which is tapered or formed into a half-conical shape as at 21. The tapered end is split by a central cut 22. The pin is made of metal, usually iron or mild steel, although other metals may be used, which is soft enough to be bent or upset.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the mode of assembly of the structure. The alternate chain link element 13 has its end place between the cheeks 2 and 3 so that the perforation 14 is aligned with the perforations 10. For clarity the element 13 has beenomitted from Figures 5 and 6. The pintle 15 is passed through the perforatious so as to pivot the link elements together. When it is in the proper position, one of the pin elements 20 is driven in from either end through the half round groove 12 of the cheeks 2 and 3. When the tapered end of a pin engages the wedge shaped ends 18 and 19 of the element 17 the two portions of the pin separated by the cut 22 are forced apart by the element 17 forming spread tines 23 (Figure 6). These tines are, of course, confined to the space between the at of the pintle and the inner surface of the perforation 14 of the alternate link member. They engage both the element 17 and the inner edges of the cheeks 2 and 3 of the socket chain link element thereby holding the pintle 15 against longitudinal movement in either direction.

Thus there is provided an inexpensive pintle fastening Patented Mar. 11, 1958 tines 23 shear oif from one of the pins. When-the pintle I is reinstalled new pins are employed. `Thus theV assembly andzdisassemblyof the chain becomes a simple operation, readily capable of being performed at the site of use ofthe mining machine.

vA modied structure is 4shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. The pintle lhaving the flat 16 is provided with a head 24 which,- engaging in a recess 25 surrounding the perforation in one of the cheeks (for example the cheek 3 ofy the socket chain link member), prevents longitudinal movement of the pintle in one direction. The element 17 willzbe providedwith `the wedge-shaped end 19 toward the. headed end of the pintle, and positioned as before; but` the termination of the other end of the element 17.becomes unimportant. It may be carried out to the opposite end .of the pintle as shown at 17a in Figure 7 orzit may be terminated as shown at 17b in Figure 8.

Only one split pin is required in the structure of these figures, since the pintlerhead prevents movement in one direction. The pin 20, driven in from the headed end of the pintlewil-l form tines 23 preventing movement of the pintlein the opposite direction. The pintle is removed by driving it out from the endopposite the head.

JY et another modicationis shown in Figures l and 1l. In these iigures'the construction'is such that 4the integral element 17 is caused to abut an inner face of one lof the cheek members of the socket chain link element-to preventmovement of the pintle in one direction. To.` this end, as shown in Figure l0, one of the cheek members-will be perforated lwith perforations having thefat 11 but minus the half round groove 12. One end offthe element 17 on-the pintle is provided with the wedge shape 19; but the'other end is cut 01T squarely transversely as at 26 ata position to abut the inner surface of the cheek 2 as described and as illustrated in Figure 10.

Again,'only one split pin is required. The pin 20 may be driven in through the half round groove 12 in the cheek 3 and, forming-tines 23, will serve to prevent longitudinal movement of the pintle to the right in Figure 10. The pintle will/be held against movement in the opposite'direction by the element 17 as hereinabove explained. In removing the pintle it will be driven out from the cheek 2 side, 'the tines shearing'oi as before. It will be obvious,'of course, that in the construction of Figures 10 and 1l, fthe pintle can only be inserted from the'cheek 3 side.

Modiiications'may'be made in the invention Without departing from the spirit of-it. The invention having beendescribed in certain exemplary embodiments, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

lfIna structure of the-class described aV chain element having-spaced cheeks, asecond chain element having a portion to be Ipositioned betweenthe said spaced cheeks, saidl cheeks and said element having alignable perforations to accept apintle, a generally cylindrical pintle for pivoting `said elements together, said pintle having a longitudinal `liat, one at least--of the perforations in said cheeks havingta corresponding flat coacting with the flat of the pintle for preventingY rotation of the pintle with respect tothe cheek, the perforation of said second chain element being circular incross` section, said pintle on said at'having a substantially half round raised portionrof lesser width than the pintle flat and limited in length so thatatjleastone end portion thereof will `lie inside the saidcheek, said endportion having a wedge-shape, said half round raisedpportion' being dimensioned to lie wholly within@ projection.of.the-cylind1ica1 surface of the said pintle, the said cheek having a substantially half round groove ...foi-media ..the.at of its .,.perforationthrough `.which thesaid half round raised portion ofY the pintle will pass, and means for preventing longitudinal move ment of the said pintle, said means comprising a substantially half round pin with a half conical end, the said pin end being split, whereby the said pin may be driven into place along side the said pintle through the groove of said cheek, the wedge-shapedl end of said half round raised portion serving to spread the split portions of said pin to prevent withdrawal of said pin through said cheek.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 in which said half round raised portion of said pintle terminates short of both cheeks and is wedge-shaped at both ends, lboth cheeks having perforations with ats and grooves, whereby said pintle may be held inplaceby similar half round pins driven in from both ends of the pintle.

3. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said pintle "has ahead at one end extending laterally beyond-'the surface'of the pintle excepting at said ilat, one'of said cheeks having a groove to accept said head-wherebyv the v pintle is restrained from ylongitudinalmovement in one direction by said head and may be restrained from movement in the other longitudinal direction by the said split pin driven in from the headed end of the pintle.

4. The structure claimed in claim l wherein the other of said cheeks has a perforation with an ungroovedtiat and `wherein one end portion of the half'round raised portion of said pintle is configured to engage said cheek and prevent movement of said pintle in one llongitudinal direction.

5. A pintle for pivoting together an'element having spaced perforated cheeks and a perforated element` lying between said cheeks, said pintle element having a generally cylindrical body with a longitudinal hat, said at bearing a raised portion of lesser width than said fiat conned wholly within a projection of the cylindrical surface of said pintle, and of such length that at least one end of it will lie inwardly of a cheek when said pintle is in position, the said end being wedge-shaped to coact with a split pin.

6. The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein said raised portion is configured to terminate inwardly of both cheeks and is Wedge-shaped at both ends.

7. The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein said pintle has a head at one end.

8. The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein said raised portion is congured at one end to abut a cheek.

9. In a structure of the class described, a ychain element having spaced cheeks, a second chain element having a portion to be positioned between said spaced cheeks, said cheeks and said second chain element having alignable perforations to accept a pintle, a generally cylindrical pintle for pivoting said elements together, said pintle having a longitudinal at with a longitudinally extending raised portion thereon of lesser width than said at and terminating short of an end of said pintle, one at least of the. perforations in said cheeks having a at coacting with the flat of said pintle to prevent rotation of said pintle With respect to the cheek, kthe flat in the perforation of said cheek having a groove to pass said raised portion'on said pintle, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said pintle with respect to said Icheek, said means comprising apinshaped in cross section to pass through said groove and contact the end of said raised-V portion which terminates short of the end ofsaid pintle, the saidfend of said raised portion being shaped vto deect anend portion of said pin when said pinis driven thereagainst, whereby to bring the said deilected end portion of said pin to a position behind a portion'of said` cheek.

l0. The structure claimed in claim 9 in whichY said raised portion of said pintle terminates short of both ends of said pintle, wherein both cheeks have' flats Iand grooves, andwherein both ,ends of said raised portion are shaped aseaoss 5 i to deflect end portions of pins driven in through each of opposite directions substantially parallel to the surface of said grooves. said at.

1l. The structure claimed in claim 9 wherein the end of said raised portion is shaped to deflect the end portion Rew Cmd 111 the me 0f thls Patent of said pin in a direction substantially parallel to the 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS surface of said at.

l2. The structure claimed in claim 9 wherein the end his;

of said raised portion is Wedge shaped, and wherein the end of said pin is split whereby when said pin is driven in FOREIGN PATENTS through said groove end portions thereof are deflected in 10 280,261 Switzerland April 16, 1952 

